Fairphone 5 vs Nothing Phone (3a)
The Fairphone 5 (2023) runs on the Qualcomm QCM6490, while the Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. By overall MobileRank rating, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads — 60/100 vs 47/100 (a 13-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3a) has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4200); the Nothing Phone (3a) is thinner (8.4mm vs 9.6mm).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Fairphone 5
Nothing Phone (3a)
What makes Fairphone 5 better?
- Overall rating 47/100
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4200 mAh
- Faster charging: 45W vs 30W
- Higher refresh rate: 120Hz vs 90Hz
- Lighter: 201g vs 212g
- Better camera (61/100 vs 48/100)
- Longer battery life (48/100 vs 28/100)
- Better display (79/100 vs 72/100)
- Better portability (54/100 vs 36/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Fairphone 5 vs the Nothing Phone (3a), the Nothing Phone (3a) scores 13 points higher (60/100 vs 47/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (61/100 vs 48/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (48/100 vs 28/100). In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (79/100 vs 72/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (61/100 vs 48/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Fairphone 5 (48/100 vs 28/100). In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Fairphone 5 (54/100 vs 36/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Fairphone 5 | Nothing Phone (3a) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm QCM6490 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | |
| AnTuTu | — | 1050601 | |
| Geekbench Single | — | 1161 | |
| Geekbench Multi | — | 3390 | |
| Display | 6.5" OLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1224x2700 | 2392x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4200 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 45W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 108 | — | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 50 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB | 8GB / 12GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 880 nits | 3000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP55 | IP54 | |
| Dimensions | 161.6×75.8×9.6 mm | 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 212 g | 201 g | |
| Launch price | — | $329 |
Camera comparison
Fairphone 5
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Front: 50MP
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Fairphone 5
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1224x2700
- Refresh rate: 90 Hz
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Fairphone 5
- 4200 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Fairphone 5
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
display
In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (79/100 vs 72/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (61/100 vs 48/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Fairphone 5 (48/100 vs 28/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Fairphone 5 (54/100 vs 36/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Fairphone 5 or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is noticeably better than the Fairphone 5 — the overall rating gap is 13 points.
What is the rating of the Fairphone 5 and the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Fairphone 5 has a MobileRank rating of 47/100, the Nothing Phone (3a) — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Fairphone 5 or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) leads on camera score (61/100 vs 48/100).
Should you choose the Fairphone 5 over the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users.